Chelsea cruise past Panathinaikos with dominant 1-4 victory

Chelsea continued their strong start in the Conference League with a convincing 1-4 win against Panathinaikos in Athens on Thursday evening. A clinical performance from the Blues, highlighted by goals from João Félix, Mykhaylo Mudryk, and Christopher Nkunku, solidified their position at the top of their group with six points from two matches.

Chelsea take control early

The match kicked off with Panathinaikos showing some early promise. Just two minutes in, Tin Jedvaj nearly put the hosts ahead with a well-placed header, but a fine save from Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jørgensen denied him. Chelsea, however, made their first chance count. A long ball found Mudryk on the left, who delivered a precise pass to João Félix, allowing the Portuguese forward to tap in from close range, giving Chelsea a 0-1 lead. Panathinaikos, featuring a rare start for Bart Schenkeveld alongside the experienced Jedvaj in defense, struggled to contain Chelsea’s attacking power. Mudryk, playing a starring role, used his pace and vision to create numerous opportunities down the left wing.

Mudryk and Neto shine as Chelsea dominate

Chelsea doubled their advantage shortly after the break. Pedro Neto, exploiting space down the right flank, delivered a perfect cross to the back post, where Mudryk rose to head home the 0-2. The Ukrainian winger wasn’t done yet; minutes later, he played a key part in Chelsea’s third goal. After skillfully navigating through Panathinaikos defenders, Mudryk laid the ball off to Félix, whose deflected shot found the far corner, making it 0-3. Chelsea’s dominance continued, and they added a fourth goal before the hour mark. A cross from Félix struck the hand of Panathinaikos defender Daniel Mancini, resulting in a penalty. Nkunku confidently converted the spot-kick, slotting the ball into the bottom-left corner to extend Chelsea’s lead to 0-4.

Panathinaikos salvage some pride

Despite being thoroughly outplayed, Panathinaikos managed to find a consolation goal in front of their home crowd. A swift attack down the right wing ended with a precise cross from Georgios Vagiannidis, which Facundo Pellistri tucked away at the back post, reducing the deficit to 1-4. Chelsea’s win not only solidifies their position at the top of the Conference League group but also underscores their attacking depth, with Mudryk and Félix leading the charge. The Blues will look to continue their momentum when they host FC Noah on November 7. Meanwhile, Panathinaikos, who remain with just one point, will travel to Sweden to face Djurgårdens IF in search of their first win of the campaign.

A promising start for Maresca's Chelsea

Under the guidance of manager Enzo Maresca, Chelsea have adapted well to the Conference League, showcasing a balanced blend of attacking flair and defensive stability. With Mudryk's two assists and a goal, along with Félix's clinical finishing, Chelsea fans will be optimistic about their chances of making a deep run in the competition. For Panathinaikos, the focus will be on regrouping and finding consistency as they aim to stay competitive in the group stage.